Yep! That’s where we’ll be heading. Not in Bangkok (but I’ll be there soon as well. hehe) but this time it will be in Ilocos!

My chance to trace back my roots and see where my ancestors came from. Yes, I’m an ilocana by blood. *I just wished I knew how to speak the language fluently.

So enough with my ratting, here’s a pre planned budget friendly itinerary of the Laoag Vigan Pagudpud tour catered to fit backpackers like me. Feel free to use it and share the adventure with me!

The Ultimate Ilocandia Adventure Itinerary!

Day & Time

Activity

Est. Expenses

Wed Nov 28

2:30pm

Dvo-MNL

200

7pm

MNL-Laoag

200

Get out of Laoag Airport to the City proper – There is a jeepney that brings passengers from the airport terminal to the city proper, Fare is 60 pesos.

60

Texicano Hotel, Laoag City Address: J. P. Rizal Street, Laoag Ilocos Norte Room Rate: Starts at 310 pesos for a single fan room Contact Details: (6377) 7705776 Notes: Do not expect too much as this is a budget hotel

300

Thurs Nov 29

6am

Sand Boarding and 4×4 Ride in La Paz Sand Dunes

1000

Rate: 2,500 pesos per group of four Contact Details: 09088853669 look for Glenn Guererro Notes: Package is for 1-hour sand boarding lessons, good for four persons. It also includes the 4×4 jeepney transportation to and from the sand dunes. Make an arrangement if you will be doing it solo.

How to get to Paoay from Laoag – rent a tricycle for 250 pesos at Loaog City proper. It is more economical since some destinations in Paoay is not on the national road

Rent a tricycle in the city proper for 250 pesos, going to and from Paoay to visit the Church and Malacañang of the North, which are both located in the town of Paoay. Travel time is around 30 minutes.

130

Another alternative is to take a Batac-Paoay jeepney. Fare is around 30 pesos.

Arrive at Paoay Church

8am

Paoay Church, a UNESCO World Heritage Site

The St. Augustine Church or popularly known as Paoay Church is one of the oldest churches in the Philippines.

10am

Malacañang of the North and Paoay Lake

Entrance Malacañang of the North

40

Depart for Laoag

12nn

Arrive at Laoag, have lunch

80

Lunch at Dap-ayan Ti Ilocos. It is like a food court / fast food where there are stalls offering a variety of food choices. Here, you’ll find the famous Laoag empanada and inihaw na longanisa.

1pm

A Walking Tour Around the City of Laoag

Laoag City tour – Ilocos Norte provincial capitol – Located in front of the Capitol building, the Aurora Park is where the statue of the maiden Pamulinawen – where the Tobacco Monopoly Monument was erected in 1882 – left of the park is the Laoag City Hall

2pm

St William’s Cathedral & the Sinking bell tower

Walking towards the street on the right side of the park will bring you to the St. William’s Cathedral –

A few steps away to the left of the Capitol Building is the Museo Ilocos Norte.

Entrance to Museo Ilocos Norte

30

Back to the hotel and check-out

4pm

Trip to Pagudpud Beach, “The Boracay of the North”

Tricycle to Van Terminal

10

Arrive at van/bus terminal for Pagudpud 2.5-3 hrs travel to Pagudpud

Fare, Laoag-Pagudpud (van)

70

How to get to Pagudpud from Laoag – Take a bus or van bound for Claveria Cagayan, it will pass by the town of Pagudpud, which is the last town before reaching Claveria Cagayan. Travel time is 1.5 hours.

South Tour includes Bangui windmills, Kapurpurawan Rock Formation and the Cape Bojeador Light House. North Tour usually includes Kabigan Falls, Bantay Abot Cave, Blue Lagoon Beach, Patapat Viaduct, Paraiso ni Anton and Aqua Grande. The town of Adams is also worth a visit if you have more time.

South Pagudpud tour (tricycle)

300

9am

Arrive at Bangui Windmills

Officially referred to as the North Wind Bangui Bay Project, it is a major source of renewable energy amounting to 40% of the power requirement of the province. Boasts to be the first wind farm in the Philippines and biggest in Southeast Asia, it is consisted of 20 wind turbines on-shore facing the South China Sea.

Off to Burgos

10am

Arrive at Kapurpurawan

In Ilocano, “Kapurpurawan” means “white” – which describes the radiant and sparkling shade of this rock formation. It is a hill of white limestone rock created by forces of the wind, water and waves coming from the ocean – truly, an amazing work of nature. Adjacent to the rock formation is the ocean, which added to the breathtaking sight.

Start strolling at Crisologo Street. This major attraction of Vigan is its mestizo district which is filled with Spanish-style houses that evoke a bygone era when its people lived prosperously because of the Manila-Acapulco maritime trade.

Though a trip to Calle Crisologo is enjoyable during the day especially because of the opportunity to shop for Vigan’s best products (antiques, abel woven products, bags, basi wine, burnay and dimili products, chicharon, jewelry, sweets, Vigan vinegar and woodcrafts) in the inobtrusive shops located in the ground floor of some of the grand houses, a walk through it is magical at night.

try some of the local food like bagnet mixed with pinakbet and their famous longganisa

Café Leona Dinner

Sat Dec 1

6am

Café Uno Bfast

see Crisologo Street,Hidden Garden and Baluarte plus the Vigan old church.

So, I headed out to my second destination via one of these tricycles. I left Baluarte at 10:28 am and arrived at the site of “Vigan River Cruise” 10:39 am. Fare from Baluarte to Mestizo River, the site of the river cruise, is Php 60. Ticket in the boat ride of Vigan River Cruise costs Php 100. Boats used in the cruise are like those small wooden fishing vessels used by many ordinary Filipino fishermen called “bangka” in Tagalog. Each boat has outriggers for stability and safety of riders, which is good for rough river. But don’t worry, the Mestizo River is calm all the way.

9am

Vigan Heritage Village

After enjoying the cruise which finished at 11:23 am, it’s time to get to the “Vigan Heritage Village”, the only colonial town in the Philippines and for which Vigan is known. I had made an arrangement with the tricycle I’d ridden from Baluarte to wait for me. Actually, he offered the service to the Heritage Village. I just accepted it for the reason of time management.

At around 1:30 pm, I thought it’s time to go to bus terminal to be in Laoag before dusk. So, I just took a tricycle for Php 15 to reach terminal of Partas Bus. You just plug down a motorized tricycle and ask the driver to take you to Partas which is near. Wait for bus with “Laoag” sign.

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The Adventurous AdventuRoj

My name is Rojae. Roj for short. A Blogger. A Nurse. Web Researcher. Spongebob Lover. Photo buff. And most of all - A Traveler. An adventurer in almost all things possible. And that’s how “adventuRoj” came about. Join me as I share this happiness that walks on busy feet as I traverse all 80 provinces of the Philippines. You’ll find a myriad of adventures divided into different categories – Travel. Shoot. Eat. Pray. Laugh. Live. and Love, each written from the heart, with the end goal of bringing a smile into yours.

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